RAPAPORT... Two jewelry veterans have debuted a group that aims to
raise awareness of, and demand for, lab-grown diamonds in the US.

The Lab Grown Diamond Council (LGDC) will introduce new
initiatives for the synthetics market, including research services, social
media and education about sustainability.

Chris Casey, the former publisher of National Jeweler,
will serve as the group’s president, and Michael Barlerin, director of the
Silver Institute’s Silver Promotion Service, will be its chairman.

“LGDC has been established to create a unified voice to
maximize the growth of lab-grown diamonds,” Casey said last week. “Our intent
is to provide members with the tools they need to continue to drive the growth
of this revolutionary product.”

Membership in the council is open to all companies active in
the synthetics market, or contemplating entry, LGDC noted.

“Many leading companies in the lab-grown market have
approached me over the last year regarding the need for focused, research-based
messaging on advocacy, communications and education of the unique offering of
lab-grown diamonds,” said Barlerin. “The LGDC creates the platform to both
develop and deliver on these needs.”

Another group, the International Grown Diamond Association (IGDA), was launched by more than 10 lab-grown-diamond producers in 2016 to represent the sector. It also aims to promote synthetics and educate consumers about them.